Ionic liquids (ILs) can be used as solvents for biopolymers due to unique chemical and physical properties that enable mobilization and disruption of the hydrogen bonding present in the biopolymer structure. Chitin is a biopolymer known to have natural antimicrobial properties that can help aid in wound healing. It also has the ability to absorb heavy metal contaminants in water, which could be used for water purification. The goal of this work is to functionalize a composite cotton yarn or cloth with chitin biopolymer, in order to exploit the bio-active properties of chitin, while maintaining the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of cotton yarn. The method used to reach this goal is known as Natural Fiber Welding (NFW). NFW is the process of full or partial dissolution of a biopolymer substrate and the regeneration using Ionic liquids, such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. Using this process, chitin is able to be permanently adhered and chemically hydrogen bonded to the outer and inner surface of the native yarn. Changing factors, such as ionic liquid solution composition (introducing DMSO), temperature, and time alters the degree of biopolymer mobilization which influences what properties the composite yarn displays. In this presentation we will show results for chitin and cotton composite yarns. We will present data characterizing the physical, chemical, and biochemical properties of these composites. Data from tensile testing, confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM), and SEM imaging as well as antimicrobial studies will be shown.

Natural fiber welded chitin composites

249th National Meeting (2015)

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